Service-table



J. W'. KEEVIL.

SERVICE TABLE.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4. l9! 1- v 1 18,387. Patented 0a. 14, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

1. w. KEEVIL.

SERVICE TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1917. 1,318,387. Patented Oct. 14,1319. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m N I N l w" l l I I Q jf m i &% l M 3 l l i Q -fia i Ii 1 l i l 5 I 1. w. KEEVIL. SERVICE TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED'SEPT. 4. 1917.

Pzitented Oct. 14,1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

, I k i JAMES W. KEEVIL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SERVICE-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 14, 1919.

Application filed September 4, 1917. Serial No. 189,575.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMEs W. KEEVIL, of

935 Crescent Place, in the city of Chicago,

county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new, useful, and Improved Service-Table, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a table and has particular reference to improvements in tables known as service tables, tea wagons r carts.

The object of my invention is to provide a table which can be used as a dining table and which can also be used as a tea wagon or service cart upon which to transport the dishes and food to and from the place of service, and in which the danger of sliding the dishes ofl the table in such transportation shall be eliminated.

A further object of my invention is to provide a service table which can readily and easily be converted from a service cart having a protecting ledge to a table having a fiat top.

A further feature of my invention involves simple means for enlarging the top for use as a dining table at times when the protecting ledge is withdrawn.

A further object of my invention is to provide a table of the character described, having a marginal ledge to be raised and lowered and side leaves or top extensions also to be raised and lowered and simple means for simultaneously effecting these changes.

My invention resides in a table provided with a marginal protecting rim, ledge or flange adapted to be projected above the table top to prevent the dishes sliding off the table and to be lowered so that its upper edge is substantially flush with the top surface of the table, and side leaves or top extensions capable of being arranged and held in the plane of the table top for extending same and of being withdrawn or lowered to make the table narrow enough to pass ordinary door openings, and means for effecting the described movements of the protecting rim and leaves.

My invention also consists in a table supported on wheels for transportation from place to place, a marginal upstanding rim on the table capable of being lowered flush with the top, side or extension leaves capable of being raised and lowered, and means operatively connected with the rim and leaves for effecting their respective movements.

My invention also consists in the several features of construction and in the combinations and arrangements of parts by which I am enabled to obtain the above mentioned and other objects and all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention will be more readily under stood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which Figure l is a top plan view of a table made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the table;

Fig. 3 is a vertical central longitudinal section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a central vertical transverse section on the line t-A: of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section similar to Fig. 3, to better show the leaf raising mechanism.

My improved service table comprises a table top 1 supported at a suitable height upon a frame work 2, which in turn is mounted for transportation on a pair of relatively large wheels 3 at one end and a pafilr of smaller caster wheels 4: at the other on The top is preferably somewhat longer than it is wide, as shown, and to its side edges I hinge leaves or table top extensions 5.

The width of the table over the leaves in their lowered positions and over the hubs of the wheels 3 is such as to permit the table being readily wheeled through ordinary door ways and ordinary elevator entrances, so that the table can be readily transported on its own wheels from the kitchen to its place of service and back again.

The leaves 5 are hinged to the top by the hinges 6 which permit the leaves to hang vertically down, as shown in Fig. 2 in full lines, and to be raised to their upper the plane of the position, substantially in as shown in said top surface of the table, figure in dotted lines.

In order to provide a guard which will prevent the dishes sliding off the table during its movement from place to place, I provide a thin rectangular frame 7 substantially the area of the table top 1 and in the form shown, I arrange this frame in a marginal slot 8 which I provide set in a short distance from the extreme edges of the table top, thereby providing a ledge or fixed frame 9 forming the outer edge of the table 1.

The guard 7 is movable up and down in the slot 8, and I preferably provide mechanism by which the leaves 5 will be raised when the guard 7 is lowered and vice versa; consequently when the leaves 5 are lowered, to permit the table to be wheeled through door openings, etc., the guard 7 will be in raised position to prevent the sliding off of the dishes, and when the leaves are raised to provide a wider top, the guard 7 will be lowered with its upper edge flush with or below the top surface of the table, so that there is presented an enlarged table top unobstructed by anything rising above it.

The frame 2 consists of a rectangular top supporting frame comprising side bars 10 and end bars 11 and a post or leg 12 at each corner thereof, extending down to a lower frame 12, which in turn is carried by the wheels 3 and casters 1.

For moving the guard 7 up and down, I provide a horizontal shaft 13 extending from end to end of the table arranged below the table top and substantially midway between the side edges thereof. The shaft is mounted for rotation on the end walls 11 and is held against endwise movement by fixed collars 14:. I provide 2 racks 15 fixed vertically on the end members 16 of the frame 7, and I provide pinions 18 formed on or earned by the shaft 13 for engagement with the racks 15 and adapted to raise and lower the guard 7 1n an obvious manner, the guard being guided in its up and down movement by the walls of the marginal slot 8, and by means of slotted guide brackets 19. The brackets 19 are secured to the legs 12 and extend up beneath the table top. They are provided with vertical slots 20 at their upper ends to receive and guide the side members 21 of the frame 7, and they provide a foundation upon which to support and secure the marginal frame 9 which forms the outer wall of the slot 8.

One end of the shaft 13 extends through a slot provided in the end wall 16 of the guard 7, and I provide a crank 22 rigidly mounted on the outer end of the shaft by which the shaft 13 can be rotated.

I so proportion the pinions 18 and arrange the crank that the crank shall hang down both when the guard is in its uppermost position and also in its lowermost position.

I provide a handle 23 pivotally secured to the outer end of the crank arm 22 and adapted, when it is desired to rotate shaft 13, to be lifted to the dotted position in Fig. 3, a stop 24: being provided on the handle to engage the crank arm to prevent the handle moving upward beyond the dotted position. One turn of the shaft 13 raises or lowers the guard 7, and as described, the crank 22 hangs down at both limits of its movement, and the handle 23 also hangs down at such time thereby being as much out of the way of a person sitting at the end of the table as possible.

'In order to give durability to the struc-' ture, I spread the Wheels 3 and 4 as wide apart as possible, arranging them beneath the side edges of the top 1, and in order to provide a table top having leg room beneath it, I provide the leaves 5 at the sides of the table.

As stated hereinbefore, I prefer to provide a mechanism by means of which the leaves 5 shall be raised when the guard 7 is lowered and vice versa.

To raise the leaves I provide two transversely arranged sliding bars or members 25 and 26, mounted on edge and side by side beneath the table top 1 and substantially midway between the ends thereof. The side bars 10 of the table top frame are provided vided in said members, and I provide a horizontal rack 32 on the member 26 adapted to mesh with the upper side of the gear 30 and a rack 33 on the member 25 adapted to mesh with the lower side of the gear 30, so that as the shaft 13 is rotated the members 25 and 26 will be moved in opposite directions; that is, they will be moved out or in together.

To force the members 25 and 26 outwardly the shaft 13 is rotated in one direction and to withdraw them it is rotated in the opposite direction. As in the case of the pinions for raising and lowering the guard 7 I make the gear 30 of a suitable size so that one revolution of the shaft 13 will force the members 25 and 26 from one limit to the opposite limit of their movement. It will be clear from Fig. 4 that as the shaft 13 is turned in the direction of the arrow, the guard 7 will be lowered, that is, as the leaves 5 are raised the guard 7 is lowered and vice versa.

I make the members 25 and 26 relatively deep vertically, and I provide the lower portions of their outer ends with projections 34 adapted to contact with the under or inner faces of the leaves 5 about the middle of their width so that but little effort will be necessary to raise the leaves.

I make the upper corners 35 of the outer ends of the members 25 and 26 rounded as shown so that as they engage the leaves for raising them, they will move the leaves smoothly and easily to their raised position, in which position the leaves rest upon and are supported by the uper edges of the members 25 and 26, the supporting surfaces extending beyond the middle of the leaves so as to support the leaves solidly in raised position.

I preferably provide thin metal contact plates 5 on the under sides of the leaves 5 for the members 25 and 26 to slide on in raising and lowering the leaves.

Upon turning the shaft 13 in a direction opposite to the arrow on Fig. 4, the leaves having been previously raised, the members 25 and 26 are withdrawn beneath the table top, the leaves are then free to fall by their own weight and the guard 7 is raised to its upper position.

To strengthen the side bars 21 of the guard 7 where the slots 27 are provided for the passage of the members 25 and 26, 1 extend the side bars downwardly forming yokes 37 and similarly I extend one end of the bars 16 downwardly forming a yoke 38 through which the shaft 13 extends.

On the lower horizontal frame 12 of the table frame 2 I mount a longitudinally slidable open topped box or storage shelf 39 having a bottom 40, sides 41, a middle partition 42 and relatively low end walls 43. This box is substantially as long as the table and is mounted for longitudinal movement on the frame 12. To permit it to be moved easily, even when loaded heavily, I provide anti-friction rollers 44 mounted on the side bars of the frame 12, which carry the weight of the shelf and its load. The shelf is slidable endwise in either direction outwardly as indicated by the dotted position shown in Fig. 3, to permit the ready loading and unloading of the shelf. To limit the endwise movement of the shelf or storage compartment, I provide a cross-bar 45 secured centrally to the underside of the floor 40 and adapted to engage the end bars of the frame 12. V

In using my combined tea cart and service table, it is usual to take the table to the kitchen and there the leaves 5 being down and the guard 7 up, to first place upon the table top a table cloth large enough to properly cover the table top with the leaves extended. Then the dishes are placed upon the cart within the guard and when all is ready the outer hanging parts of the table cloth are turned up over the dishes. If it is desirable, various additional articles for table use can be placed in the compartments of the movable shelf 39. Then the cart is ready for transportation to the place where the meal is to be served, and this is readily accomplished upon the wheels 3 and 4, the guard 7 preventing the dishes sliding 011' the table during its transportation.

After reaching the place of service, it is only necessary to lift ofl the parts of the table cloth which have been laid up over the dishes, and then by one turn of the crank 22 by means of the handle 23, the leaves 5 are lifted to their upper position thus extending the table top laterally and providing leg room beneath the table top, and the guard is lowered, thus providing a continuous smooth table top, and thereafter the dishes can be quickly and easily properly arranged upon the full size table top.

If such articles as catsup bottles and the like are to be used, they can be carried in the compartments of the movable shelf 39. All of the above described arranging of the table can be accomplished in a very short time. When it is desired to remove the table the dishes are first removed from the leaves 5 to the center part of the table, then by one turn of the shaft 13, the leaves 5 are lowered, thus making the table narrow enough to pass readily through door openings, and the guard 7 is raised to prevent the sliding off of the dishes from the table top, and the cart is ready to be wheeled back to the kitchen.

A great saving in time of the waiters over the old method of folding tables, the dishes carried in on trays, etc., is efiected as is perfectly obvious.

As many modifications of my invention readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, I do not limit or confine my invention to the specific structures herein shown or herein described.

I claim:

1. A table, a relatively thin marginal rim or flange on the top of the table and movable from a position where it projects above the table forming a marginal guard to a position where its upper edge does not extend above the upper surface of the table top, leaves or table top extensions at the edges of the table top adapted to occupy depending positions at the edges of the table and to be raised into the plane of the table top, and means for simultaneously raising the leaves and lowering the marginal rim.

2. A table, a relatively thin marginal rim or flange on the top of the table and movable from a position where it projects above the table forming a marginal guard to a position where its upper edge is flush with or below the upper surface ofthe table top, leaves or table top extensions at the edges of the table top adapted to occupy depending positions at the edges of the table and to be raised into the plane of the table top, and means forv simultaneously moving the leaves. and the marginal rim in opposite directions.

3. A table, wheels upon which the table is mounted for easy transportation from place to place, a relatively thin marginal rim or flange on the top of the table and movable from a position where it projects above the table top forming a marginal guard to a position Where its upper edge is flush with or below the upper surface of the table top, leaves or table top extensions at the edges of the table movable from a depending position at the edges of the table to a position where they lie substantially in the plane of the table top, and means for simultaneously moving the leaves and marginal rim in opposite directions.

4. A table, wheels upon which the table is mounted for easy transportation, a marginal guard on the table top movable up and down relatively thereto to project at times above the table top and at times to be positioned to be substantially flush with the table top, a shaft carried by the table top, leaves hinged at the sides of the table top and movable from a depending position to a position where they lie substantially in the plane of the table top, and pinion and rack connections between said shaft and rim and between the shaft and said leaves for moving said leaves and said rim.

5. A table, wheels upon which the table is mounted for easy transportation, a marginal rim on the table top movable up and down relatively thereto to projectat times above the table top and at times to be positioned to' be substantially flush with the table top, a rotatable shaft carried by the table top, leaves hinged at the sides of the table top and movable from a depending position to a position where they lie substantially in the plane of the table top, and

inion and rack connections between said shaft and said rim and between the shaft and said leaves for simultaneously moving said leaves and said rim in opposite directions.

6. A table, leaves hinged to the sides of the table for extending the table top and movable from depending positions to a position where they lie substantially in the plane of the table top, a shaft mounted for rotation below the table top, sliding members movable horizontally out and in below the table top and adapted to swing said, leaves up, and rack and pinion connections between said shaft and said sliding members for moving same out and in simultaneously.

7. A table, leaves hinged to the sides of the table for extending the table top and movable from depending positions to positions where they lie substantially in the plane of the table top, a shaft mounted for rotation below the table top, sliding members movable out and in below the table top and adapted to lift said leaves, toothed racks on said sliding members and a cooperating gear on said shaft for simultaneously moving the sliding members out and in in opposite directions.

8. In a table of the character described having atop, a marginal slot around said top, a relatively thin marginal rim movable up and down in said slot and adapted to be raised above the upper surface of the table top for forming a marginal guard, a shaft mounted below the table top, racks on said marginal rims and cooperating pinions on said shaft for raising and lowering said rim.

9. In a table of the character described having a top, said top provided with a marginal slot, a relatively thin rim movable up and down in said slot, leaves hinged to the outer edges of said top and movable from a depending position to a position where they lie substantially in the plane of the table top, a horizontal shaft mounted upon the table beneath the top and means operatively connecting said shaft with said rim and with said leaves for lowering the rim and simultaneously raising the leaves.

10. In a table of the character described having'a top, the top having a marginal slot in the top, a relatively thin rim movable up and down in the slot, leaves hinged to the sides of the table and movable from a de pending position to a horizontal position substantially in the plane of the table top, transversely arranged leaf raising members beneath the top, a gear mounted on said shaft and racks carried by said members whereby when the shaft is rotated the members are simultaneously moved out and in,

pinions on said shaft, and cooperating racks I on said rim whereby when'said shaft is ro- 'bers out and in for changing the positions of said leaves, the projections on the lower portions of the outer ends of said members adapted to engage the inner or lower surfaces of the leaves to raise same, the leaves when in raised position being adapted to rest upon the upper edges of said members, the upper corners of the outer ends of said members being rounded off for contact With I the under sides of the leaves.

12. In a table of the character described, leaves hinged to the edges of the table top and movable from depending positions to positions substantially in the plane of the table top for extending same horizontally, slidable members beneath the top for raising the leaves, means for guiding said members and slot and pin connections slidingly connecting said members together.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 31st day of August, 1917, in the presence of one subscribing Witness.

JAMES W. KEEVIL.

Witness E. F. WILSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. t 

